Note:
Course content may be changed, term to term, without
notice. The information below is provided as a guide
for course selection and is not binding in any form,
and should not be used to purchase course materials.
JOUR 225 Course Syllabus
COURSE SYLLABUS
JOUR 225
MEDIA WRITING
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course provides a survey of mass communication media formats and writing techniques
from news for print and broadcast, to advertising and public relations. The course is designed to
enhance the appreciation of the mass communication professional as well as provide an
understanding of the basic techniques used by the professional to inform and/or persuade
audiences. Students will write news stories, produce copy for broadcast news, create an
advertising package, and develop a public service announcement. (Formerly COMS 220)
RATIONALE
Understanding how a media message is communicated, whether through a news story, blog,
press release or advertisement, and then being able to formulate your own message in that
fashion is foundational and pertinent to a broad variety of marketplaces. Presenting that
information from a foundation of bilical, Christ-centered principles and values is a necessity to
ensuring ethical and moral adherence once the student is faced with a real-time contradiction.
Although mass communication is in a constantly changing motion, the principles learned in this
class for mass communication writing will remain the same no matter what technological
changes occur in the marketplace in the future.
I.
II.
PREREQUISITES
For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic
Course Catalog.
REQUIRED RESOURCE PURCHASES
Click on the following link to view the required resource(s) for the term in which you are
registered: http://bookstore.mbsdirect.net/liberty.htm
III.
IV.
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS FOR LEARNING
A.
Computer with basic audio/video output equipment
B.
Internet access (broadband recommended)
C.
Microsoft Office
MEASURABLE LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
A.
Use the Associated Press Stylebook rules in the editing process for print, web, and
public relations.
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JOUR 225 Course Syllabus
V.
B.
Compare and contrast the commonalities and differences of print, broadcast,
interactive media, advertising, and public relations.
C.
Create pieces for mediated channels of communication using professional writing
techniques.
D.
Capture new techniques of emerging technologies in news, information, and
entertainment.
E.
Apply biblical and professional guidelines to conceptual real-world work
scenarios that involve ethical/moral situations.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND ASSIGNMENTS
A.
Textbook readings and lecture presentations
B.
Course Requirements Checklist
After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will
complete the related checklist found in Module/Week 1.
C.
Discussion Board Forums (4)
There are 4 Discussion Board forums in this course. Discussion boards are
collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student will post a thread of 150–
200 words to each Discussion Board Forum. Discussions will be based on
presentations and reading material. Instructions for each forum are provided in the
Assignment Instructions folder in Blackboard. A reply of 50–75 words to at least 1
classmate’s thread is also required.
D.
Interview
The student will interview a friend or family member on his/her 9/11 experience
using 10 prepared and researched questions. After the interview, the student will
write a 250-word feature story using the information. The student will learn to
gather information and develop research skills through the interview process and
then take that information and compose a story. After the interview is complete, the
student will turn in the 10 questions, the notes taken during the interview, and the
written story. This assignment must be 3–4 pages and must be typed in a Word
document.
E.
News Story
The student will write a news story using the inverted pyramid (taken from the
reading in the textbook). The story will be 300 words minimum and must include
the following: a straight-news lead, direct and indirect quotes, Associated Press
Style rules and grammar rules, short sentences, and short paragraphs (3 sentences
maximum), no first/second person, accuracy, clarity, and conciseness.
F.
Broadcast News Critique
The student will write an evaluation that is at least 1 page of a nightly news
broadcast, basing the critique on the reading and information about broadcast
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JOUR 225 Course Syllabus
style. The student will write a assessment detailing what he/she saw regarding the
concepts of timeliness, information not explanation, and the audio/visual impact.
G.
Response to “The Persuaders”
The student will write a 2-page response paper commenting/critiquing the
presentation “The Persuaders,” highlighting particular eye-opening portions, and
noting techniques of marketing persuasion.
H.
News Release
Taking the scenario that the student is doing public relations for a company,
he/she will write a news release that must include: headline, contact information,
release time, a body consisting of 275 words (with direct and indirect quotes),
word count, double-spaced, and the use of AP Style and grammar rules
throughout.
I.
Exams (3)
All exams will be multiple-choice and true/false. Exam 1 will cover Chapters 1–5.
Exam 2 will cover Chapters 6–10. The Final Exam is cumulative and will cover
Chapters 1–14.
VI.
COURSE GRADING AND POLICIES
A.
Points
Course Requirements Checklist
Discussion Board Forums
Thread (4 at 35 pts ea)
Reply (4 at 15 pts ea)
Interview
News Story
Broadcast News Critique
Response to “The Persuaders”
News Release
Exam 1
Exam 2
Final Exam
10
Total
B.
140
60
50
150
75
75
150
75
75
150
1010
Scale
A = 900–1010 B = 800–899 C = 700–799 D = 600–699 F = 0–599
C.
Late Assignment Policy
If the student is unable to complete an assignment on time, then he or she must
contact the instructor immediately by email.
Assignments that are submitted after the due date without prior approval from the
instructor will receive the following deductions:
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JOUR 225 Course Syllabus
1.
Late assignments submitted within one week of the due date will
receive a 10% deduction.
2.
Assignments submitted more than one week late will receive a 20%
deduction.
3.
Assignments submitted two weeks late or after the final date of the
course will not be accepted.
4.
Late Discussion Board threads or replies will not be accepted.
Special circumstances (e.g. death in the family, personal health issues) will be
reviewed by the instructor on a case-by-case basis.
D.
Disability Assistance
Students with a documented disability may contact Liberty University Online’s
Office of Disability Academic Support (ODAS) at LUOODAS@liberty.edu to
make arrangements for academic accommodations. Further information can be
found at www.liberty.edu/disabilitysupport.
Page 4 of 4
COUR ### Course Schedule
COURSE SCHEDULE
JOUR 225
Textbook: Stovall, Writing for the Mass Media (2012).
MODULE/
WEEK
READING & STUDY
1
Stovall: chs. 1–2, 4
3 videos
2
ASSIGNMENTS
POINTS
Course Requirements Checklist
DB Forum 1 Thread
Interview
10
35
50
Stovall: chs. 3, 5
DB Forum 1 Reply
Exam 1
15
75
3
Stovall: chs. 6–7
1 website
DB Forum 2 Thread
35
4
Stovall: ch. 10
1 presentation
DB Forum 2 Reply
News Story
15
150
5
Stovall: chs. 8–9
1 website
DB Forum 3 Thread
Broadcast News Critique
Exam 2
35
75
75
6
Stovall: ch. 11
1 presentation
1 website
DB Forum 3 Reply
DB Forum 4 Thread
15
35
7
Stovall: ch. 12
1 website
DB Forum 4 Reply
Response to “The Persuaders”
15
75
8
Stovall: chs. 13–14
1 presentation
News Release
Final Exam
150
150
TOTAL
1010
DB = Discussion Board
NOTE: Each course module/week (except Module/Week 1) begins on Tuesday morning at
12:00 a.m. (ET) and ends on Monday night at 11:59 p.m. (ET). The final module/week
ends at 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday.